Poultry scalding machine



y' 1952 G. w. JOHNSON POULTRY SCALDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1948 y 3, 1952 G. w. JOHNSON 2,602,186

POULTRY SCALDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1948 y 3, 1952 a. w. JOHNSON 2,602,186

\ POULTRY SCALDING MACHINE Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE POULTRY SCALDING MACHINE Gordon W. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo. ass'ignor to Gordon Johnson Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Apnl ha ien July .12, 1 48 Se No- 38,299 6 Claims. (01. 17- 112) 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a poultry scalder, and has particular reference to an apparatus for scalding poultry as it is moved along a conveyor line.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision, in a poultry sealder having a cabinet and suitable sprays therein adapted to be directed against poultry as said poultry is moved through said cabinet, of a traveling screen disposed beneath said cabinet and through which scalding fluid draining from said poultry .passes for the removal of feathers, manure, clotted'bjlood and other waste matter therefrom, and means for cleaning said waste material from said screen at a suitable disp0$al point.

Another object is the provision of a poultry scalder comprising a cabinet through which poule try is adapted to' be passed by a traveling conveyor, spray heads carried in said cabinet for spraying scalding fluid against said poultry, means for delivering scalding fluid to said spray heads, a screen belt disposed beneath said cabinet so that scalding fluid draining from said poultry passes therethrough ior the removal of waste material therefrom, means .ior driving said belt, suitable spray heads disposed on the opposite side of said screen whereby sprays are directed through said screen to remove said waste material therefrom, and means for recirculating said strained scalding fluid to said iirst named sprayheads.

further object is the provision, in a poultry scalder having a cabinet through which poultry ismoved on a suitable conveyor, of spray heads disposed in said cabinet at each side of the line of travel of said poultry and adapted to direct thin, sheet-like sprays of scalding iluid inwardly against said poultry, the planes of said sprays being inclined relative to the direction of travel of the poultry and the planes of the sprays at opposite sides of the cabinet being disposed angularly to each other. Since each spray travels vertically along the bird as well as horizontally, and since when the bird is swung about by the sprays, the sprays from the opposite side strike the bird angularly to the other sprays, this spray arrangement has been found to produce thorough scalding.

'Wi h he o jects. i i as ell o her ob ects which w l ap ear. in he eei re i he speci cat on. r ie n will he, had o the draw i alwh ieih:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a poultry scalder embodying the present invention, with parts broken away. s

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 11-3-11 o gsh i a fo sp nd d n he sp ay cabinet by means of a suitable, conveyor.

i 3 i a r duced s ct on a en on in Il III of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3, with the conveyor and poultry omitted.

Fi 15 a s ctio taken on line pi e- 3,

with t e c een be t parti l b o e a a 'Fie- 6 i n nlar ed r m a sec on taken on line V'L-VI of 3.

Fi 7 is n me e r m n a ran e se ec i o h edse o t of he sc en belti 8 is a f agm n y s ct on ake on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

Ha 9 is a n a ged ec i ken 9 line IX? IX of Fig. 3, showing a portion of one of the spray pi s and iihe s ray he ds atteehed' hereto ,F s- 10 i an n arg d secti n ak n on li e X12; of Fig. 9.

ke e r nc numera ap y to S mi r rts h o h u h s era ie s and the ume a 2 a s tee rectan u ar an o en a th top a d hav n a ttom 4. ide Walls 6, and e a s A n outwardly turnedflange I0 is provided at the upp r edges of said s and n Walla Sai n u rte bove th oor by less 2 ri idly attached to said tank at the. corners thereof. r h nn r e rner mbers I e ri idly fi e i th o n rs Oi ank 2 and ext er e l pwar l he rom, up orti a rect guer p a Qa'binet l6 whieh'is u stan ia l ex ene ve h ank 2 and, wh c compr se s e walls 18 and top 21) said side Walls having outi l turn d fl n es 2 a ng th ir lo edges id an e ing r idl tached to flange l0 oftank 2 'thus,.the bottom 4 of tanl; ,2 constitutes also the bottom of cabinet I6. Top 20 of said cabinet is slotted longitudinally along its midi e t 24 to pr i e t r the sa e oi the fowl sup qrting chain as. hereinafter described. 1 Said cabinet is also provided with'long-itudinal extensions '25 at each end to prevent splashing of the pr i om t e pen. end pf t e Cabinet e tops "28 of said extensions are provided with inweirdly c e nt uide l 30/ c mmu c n at he i n r ends w th lo s e bein adapted to direct the fowl supporting chains into slo't24.

he s de is a apted ebe p siti n with l 24 s nt ly b neath and pa a lel a o eyer-re l l aid ra lb s supp t by ngers 3.4. A plural t i brackets 3 eac ry f tation a roller 38 adapted to roll along said rail. Said brackets are secured in spaced relation along said rail, and moved along said rail, by a conveyor chain 40 connecting the downwardly extended ends of said brackets. Suspended from each of said brackets is a chain 42 which hangs downwardly through slot 24 and carries at its lower end a poultry shackle 44 supported by a swivel connection 46. Said shackle may be of any type suitable for engaging the legs of a fowl 48, as best shown in Fig. 2.

A pump 50, and an electric motor 52 adapted to drive said pump, are mounted on a base 54 disposed adjacent one side of tank 2. The delivery pipe 50 of said pump is connected by means of pipe 58 with a horizontal pipe 60 which extends into tank 2 through one of the side walls 6 thereof and which extends transversely through said tank to a point adjacent the opposite wall thereof. Connected to pipe 50 are a pair of upwardly inclined pipes '62, said pipes being disposed respectively adjacent the inner surfaces of spray cabinet side walls I8. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that pipes 62 are inclined in opposite directions so as to be substantially at right angles to each other, and are each interconnected at their upper ends with a horizontal pipe 64 extending longitudinally in cabinet IS and rigidly attached at its ends to brackets 68 fixed to corner members I4. Pipes 64v are disposed adjacent the upper edge of the spray cabinet. A vertically downwardly extending spray tube 68 is interconnected with each pipe 04 adjacent each end thereof, and a plurality of downwardly inclined spray tubes 10 are interconnected with each pipe 64 intermediate its ends. Spray tubes 50 at opposite sides of the spray cabinet are inclined oppositely so as to be substantially at right angles to each other, as best shown in Fig. 3.

A plurality of spray heads'l2 are carried in spaced relation of each of spray tubes 68 and 10. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, each'of said spray heads comprises a body member I4 clamped to the spray tube by a U-bolt Itv and having a hole '18 formed therethrough in registering relation with a hole 80 formed in the tubewall. A deflector plate 82 integral with body member 14 deflects water or other scalding fluid passing through hole I8 into a thin, sheet-like spray;

Poultry 'passingbefore said sprays are prevented from being scratched, torn, or otherwise damaged by said spray heads by a guard plate 84 secured by U-bolts I6 and extending outwardly beyond the outer ends of deflector plates 82. Said spray heads are adapted to direct thin sprays inwardly against poultry as it is moved through the cabinet, and since the planesof the sprays are parallel to spray tubes I which are inclinedrelative to the direction of travel of the birds, said sprays will travel vertically along each bird as well as transversely. Furthermore," as a bird is swung about onswivel '45 by the sprays, the

sprays from opposite sides of the cabinet strike the birdat differentangles. This spray arrangement has been found very efiicient in providing thorough scalding of poultry, even with large and heavily feathered birds. V V

A pipe 86 provided with a hand operated valve 88 is interconnected at one end with, pipe 58 outside of tank 2, and at its opposite end with a pipe 90 extending into tank 2 through side wall 6 and interconnected at its inner end with a horizontal pipe 92 extending longitudinally in tank 2 and mounted to side wall 6 thereof by means of brackets 94. A similarly mounted pipe 95 extending along the opposite side of tank 2 is intercom nected with pipe 92 by means of a pipe 98 extending transversely across tank 2 adjacent the bottom thereof. Pipes 92 and 96 are provided with upwardly extending, oppositely inclined spray tubes I00 fitted with spray heads I02 and guard plates I04 substantially in the same manner as spray tubes I0, except that spray tubes I00 each carry only one spray head. Spray heads I02 may thus be supplied with scalding fluid independently of spray heads I2 by opening or closing valve 88, and are adapted to be used only when turkeys or other large poultry which hang low in the spray cabinet are being scalded.

A rectangular reservoir tank I00 is disposed longitudinally beneath tank 2 and is supported by a frame comprising a pair of horizontal angle irons I08 extending longitudinally beneath tank 2, said angle irons being connected adjacent their ends by crosspieces H0, and said crosspieces being supported by upwardly extending supports II2 rigidly fixed at their upper ends to tank 2. The side walls II4 of tank I00 contact the bottom of tank 2, while the end walls II6 of said tank are spaced below the bottom of tank 2. Angle irons I08 extend outwardly from each end of tank I00. At the left end of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, brackets I I8 are mounted on the extended portions of said angle irons. Said brackets carry bearings I20 which in turn carry rotatably a horizontal shaft I22 extending transversely. A pair of spaced apart sheave wheels I24 are rigidly mounted on said shaft between said bearings. At the right end of the machine, corresponding sheave wheels I26 are rigidly mounted on a shaft I28 carried for rotation in bearings l30 mounted on brackets I32 fixed to the extended end portions of angle irons I08.

An endless belt I34 of flexible screen material is disposed operatively about sheave wheels I24 and I26, the upper reach of said belt passing over the upper edges ofend walls IIB of tank I06 and adjacent the bottom of tank 2, being supported along its edges by tracks I36 fixed to the side walls II4 of said tank adjacent the'upper edge thereof, and the lower reach of said belt passing beneath tank I06 and being supported along its edges by tracks I38 carried by angle irons I 08.

.An elongated slot I40 is formed longitudinally in the bottom of tank 2, through which scalding fluid draining from the poultry in the spray cabinet may pass, passing thence through screen belt I I34 and into tank I06. As best shown in Figs.

' 7 and 8, the edge portions of the belt are bound of the screen become clogged by waste material strained-from the water, the water will flow out wardly from the slot and pass through the screen before reaching the edges thereof. At regularly spaced intervals along belt I34, metallic strips I48 and I50 are disposed respectively at opposite sides of said screen and extend transversely thereof, and are rigidly joined by rivets I52.

Said strips serve as transverse stiffeners for thescreen, and the outer strip I48 is provided with an outwardly turned flange I54 adapted to 'obturn driven by electric motor I64. Said gear re-" duction unit and said motor are mounted on a platform I66 carried by one of angle irons I08. By mean of said motor, screen belt I34 is moved slowly beneath slot I40, the upper'reach of said belt moving to the left as viewed in Fig. 3. The feathers, manure, blood, saliva, and other waste carried by said screen are thus constantly moved toward the left end of the machine.

Screen belt I30 is cleaned by sprays of cold water issuing from a pair of spray heads I68 similar to spray heads I2 and passing outwardly through said belt just after the belt passes around sheave wheels I24, thus'discharging the waste material downwardly to the floor where it may conveniently be washed away. Said spray heads are carried by a spray tube I'I0 extending transversely through the loop formed by belt I34 just to the right of sheave wheels I24, and said spray tube is mounted firmly on brackets I12 carried by angle irons I90. Said spray tube is interconnected by means of pipe HQ with a suitable source of cold water, said pipe having a hand operated valve I'I6 therein for controlling the flow of spray heads I68.

Water draining into tank I06 through screen I34 is returned to the intake of pump 50 by means of pipe I16 for recirculation to spray heads I2 and I02. Since wateris carried out of the scalder in the feathers of the poultry, means must be provided for continually adding water. For this purpose a float chamber I80 is suspended from tank 2 by supports I32 substantially at the same elevation as tank I06, and is directly interconnected with tank I06 by a pipe I60 extending between the lower portions thereof, whereby the liquid level in said tank and fioat chamber is maintained equal. A float valve I86 carried in the upper portion of said float chamber and controlled by a float I88 disposed on the surface of the liquid in said chamber, is interconnected by means of pipe I90 with cold Water supply pipe I14, pipe I96 being fitted also with a hand operated control valve I92. Whenever the liquid level in chamber I80 falls, float valve I86 will be opened to allow water to flow into float chamber I80 and thence into tank I06 through pipe I84. An auxiliary filler tube I94 extends into tank I06 through side wall II4 thereof, and is interconnected by means of pipe I96 and pipe I90 with cold water supply pipe I'M. Pipe I96 is provided with a hand operated control valve I98, by means of which the flow of Water through auxiliary filler tube I94 may be controlled independently. Said filler tube may be used for filling tank I06 initially, or may be opened when birds are being passed through the machine at a high rate of speed in order to supplement the flow through float valve I86.

The water is heated by steam passing outwardly through perforations 200 in a steam pipe 202 disposed longitudinally in tank I06 adjacent the bottom thereof, and supported by a bracket 204 fixed to th bottom of said tank. Said steam pipe is interconnected with a pipe 206 which extends outwardly from tank I06 and is adapted to be connected with a suitable source of steam. The flow of steam through pipe 206 is regulated by a valve 208 operable by a suitable thermostatically o er ablecontrol 2I0 ofstandard type, saidcontrol being interconnected by means of conduit 2-12 with a pressure type-thermostat 2-H carried in delivery pipe 58 of pump 50. By means of said thermostatically operable valve, sufficient steam may be admitted to tank I06 to maintain the water therein at any desired temperature. In this connection, it is to be noted that the term scalding, as used in this application, does not mean boiling but refers tothe temperature at which it has been found most advantageous to maintain the scalding fluid. A temperature of 128-130 degrees Fahr. has been found to provide loosening of the feathers without burning, cooking, or otherwise injuring the bird.

Thus a poultry scalder having definite advantages ha been produced. Heretofore the use of stationary straining screens in recirculating sys- 'tems has necessitated frequent stoppages for cleaning the screens, which clogged rapidly due to the large amount of waste material in the water. Furthermore, stationary screens were necessarily large in order'to provide suflicient capacity when partially clogged, and the reservoir tanks were consequently large. Alsopthe scalding water was constantly passed throughaccumulated Waste and was thus unsanitary. These obj jections are all obviated by't his invention. Since freshly cleanedscreen is presented at all times relatively small, the Water is completely replaced every few minutes of operation, thu further increasing the cleanliness of the scalding sprays.

What I claim is:

1. A poultry scalder comprising a bottomed spray cabinet, means carried in said cabinet for directing sprays of scalding liquid against poultry disposed in said cabinet, said cabinet having a relatively narrow, elongated slot formed through the bottom thereof, a relatively broad endless screen belt carried beneath said cabinet and having a reach adapted to travel continuously beneath and parallel to said slot, liquid draining from said cabinet being adapted to pass through said slot and said screen for the removal of waste material therefrom, means for continuously removing said waste material from said belt at a zone of its travel, and means for driving said belt continuously beneath said slot and past the Waste removing means.

2. A poultry scalder comprising a bottomed spray cabinet, mean carried in said cabinet for directing sprays of scalding liquid against poultry disposed in said cabinet, said cabinet having a relatively narrow, elongated slot formed through the bottom thereof, a relatively broad endless screen belt carried beneath said cabinet and having a reach adapted to travel continuously beneath and parallel to said slot, liquid draining from said cabinet being adapted to pass through said slot and said screen for the removal of waste material therefrom, means for directing sprays of water outwardly through said belt at a point spaced outwardly from the end of said slot, whereby said waste material is removed from said screen, and mean for driving said belt continuously beneath said slot and past the waste removmg means.

3. A poultry scalder comprising a spray cabinet, means carried in said cabinet for directing sprays of scalding liquid against poultry disposed inv said cabinet, anendlessscreen beltcarried by said, cabinet and having a substantially horizontal upper reach adapted to move continuously beneath said cabinet and through which liquid draining from said cabinet is adapted to pas for the removal of waste materialtherefrom, a tank disposed between the upper and lower reaches of said belt and adapted to receive said liquid after it has passed through said screen, means for recirculating said liquid from said tank to said spray means, means for directing sprays of water outwardly through the lower reach of said belt, whereby said waste material is discharged downwardly from said screen, and means for driving said belt continuously beneath said cabinet and past the waste discharge means.

4. A poultry scalder comprising a bottomed spray cabinet, means carried in said cabinet for directing sprays of scalding liquid against poultry disposed in said cabinet, said cabinet having a relatively narrow, elongated slot formed through the bottom thereof, a relatively broad endless screen belt carried beneath said cabinet and having a substantially horizontal upper reach adapted to travel continuously beneath and parallel to said slot, liquid draining from said cabinet through said slot being adapted to pass through said screen for theremoval of waste material therefrom, a tank disposed between the upper and lower reaches of said belt and adapted to receive said liquid, means for recirculating said liquid from said tank to said spray means, means for directing spray of water outwardly through the lower reach of said belt, whereby said waste material is'discharged downwardly from said screen for suitable disposal, and means for driving said belt continuously beneath said slot and past the waste discharging means.

5. In a' poultry scalder of the class described having a cabinet through which poultry is moved by a suitable conveyor, means carried by said cablust for directing thin, sheet-like sprays of scalding liquid against said poultry as it moves through said cabinet, said sprays being located in planes inclined relative to the direction of travel of said poultry. V

6. In a poultry scalder of the class described having a cabinet through which poultry is moved horizontally by a suitable conveyor, nozzles carried in said cabinet and disposed at each side of the line of travel of said poultry for directing thin,sheet-like sprays of scalding liquid inwardly against said poultry as it moves through said cabinet, said sprays being located in planes in clined vertically relative to the direction of travel of said poultry, and said planes of the sprays at opposite sides of the poultry being inclined in opposite directions from-the vertical.

GORDON W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sTAT s PATENTS Number 

